1. LOXL-2 and TNC-C are markers of liver fibrogenesis in HCV/HIV-, HIV- and HCV-infected patients
- Author
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Akif Altinbas, Jacinta A Holmes, Shadi Salloum, Anna Lidofsky, Nadia Alatrakchi, Ma Somsouk, Peter Hunt, Steven Deeks, Kara W Chew, Georg Lauer, Annie Kruger, Wenyu Lin, and Raymond T Chung
- Subjects
Liver Cirrhosis ,Coinfection ,Biochemistry (medical) ,Clinical Biochemistry ,Drug Discovery ,Humans ,HIV Infections ,Fibrosis ,Hepatitis C ,Biomarkers - Abstract
Background: Lysil oxidase like enzyme-2 (LOXL-2) and TNC-C play important roles in organ fibrosis. We assessed circulating LOXL-2 and TNC-C levels and their relationship to fibrosis severity in HIV- and/or HCV-infected individuals. Methods: Healthy controls (n = 22), HIV mono- (n = 15), HCV mono- (n = 52) and HCV/HIV-co-infected (n = 92) subjects were included. Results: LOXL-2 and TNC-C levels were significantly higher in HCV mono- and HCV/HIV-co-infected individuals with F0 compared to healthy controls. In addition, in HCV/HIV-co-infected individuals, LOXL-2 levels were higher in intermediate fibrosis compared to no/mild fibrosis. Conclusion: In HCV/HIV-co-infected study participants, both LOXL-2 and TNC-C were significantly higher in intermediate fibrosis compared to no/mild fibrosis, but did not further increase with advanced fibrosis. Furthermore, both markers were elevated among HCV/HIV-positive individuals with mild/no fibrosis.
- Published
- 2022